NYMPHALID^ EPICALIA. 



base (crossing the body) is composed of three oval spots and one long and triangular. 

 The second band which commences near the middle of the outer margin of the same 

 wing by three unequal spots is continuous on the posterior wing, and ends at the middle 

 of the abdomen, narrowest at the upper margin of the wing, and slightly sinuated on 

 both sides. The third band which commences below the apex of the posterior wing, and 

 ends at the anal angle, is formed of five lunular spots. Anterior wing truncate at the 

 apex, marked with a brick -red spot, a small spot above that which commences the first 

 band, and three or four near the outer margin, yellow. Posterior wing with a minute 

 spot near the apex. 



Exp. t 1-n ? 2 fq i in - Hab - Venezuela. 



Fig. .5. Underside of male. 



Fig. G. Underside of female. 



In the Collections of W. W. Saunders and W. C. Hewitson. 



The repeated observations of Mr. Bates having now proved beyond a doubt that the butterflies of 

 the second section (Catonephele) of Mr. Doubleday's genus Myscelia, in the " Genera of Diurnal Lepi- 

 doptera," are the females of the Epicalias, 1 have much pleasure in being able to place two of them with 

 their proper partners. On the upperside E. Salacia and E. Nyctimus differ so little, except in the form 

 of the apex of the anterior wing, and Mr. Westwood's slight description of E. Nyctimus being applicable 

 to either, I have thought it best to figure the undersides of both species. 



Mr. Bates has also sent home P. Acontius of Linnceus, and P. Medea of Fabricius as the sexes of 

 one species. 



EPICALIA PENTIIIA. 7. 

 Nymphalis Micalia, Godart. 



Upperside black. Both wings with a broken submarginal line of yellow. Anterior 

 wing crossed obliquely before the middle by a broad, irregular band of yellow, sinuated on 

 both sides, and ending in a point near the outer margin. Two spots of yellow, and a larger 

 spot of brick-red form a line near the apex. Posterior wing with a distinct yellow spot near 

 the apex, followed by a row of indistinct, lunular spots, parallel to the outer margin. 



Underside. Anterior wing black, the yellow band marked near the costal margin 

 by a black spot ; the base green, with a triangular black spot ; the upper and outer 

 margins and a large space at the apex chocolate, clouded with brown. Posterior wing 

 chocolate clouded with darker colour ; crossed from the costal nervure to the inner margin 

 (which it covers) by a very broad band of dark brown, marked near its commencement 

 by a lunular chocolate spot, sinuated on its lower margin which interrupts a row of six dark 

 purple spots. A line of lighter colour below the spots, and a short one of black near the 

 base. Both wings with a submarginal line of lighter colour than the adjoining surface. 



Exp. 2 f^. Hab. Bio de Janeiro. 



In the Collections of W. W. Saunders aud W. C. Hewitson. 



This is not the insect described by Fabricius as P. Micalia, and by Godart at page 315 of the 

 Encyclopedie Methodique as Vanessa Micalia, and figured by Cramer in Plate 108. It is the butterfly 

 described by Godart at page 415 of the Encyclopedie as Nymphalis Micalia, which he considers identical 

 with, and the female of, his Vanessa Micalia. They are, however, both females, and, together with M. 

 Samaria of this work, will one day change their names for those of three of the orange-banded Epicalias, 

 when experience shall have taught us with which to mate them. 



E. Penthia, it must be granted, is very closely allied to E. Micalia, but, besides the different form 

 and colour of the posterior wing, E. Penthia has a red spot near the apex, which is absent in E. Micalia, 

 and though 1 should be very unwilling in other genera to place any reliance on a difference so trivial as 

 the last mentioned, it is in this genus of specific importance, and it will be seen by reference to E. Salacia 

 and Nyctimus that this red spot which is present in both sexes of E. Nyctimus is absent in E. Salacia. 



In two other species, which scarcely differ above, E. Pierretii of Doubleday and E. Sabrina of 

 Hewitson, the same red spot is a distinctive character. 



